The Rise of Totalitarian Dictators
Name: _______________________________________________________ Date: _______
Between the Wars: Totalitarianism Ms. Carey
Focus Questions:
▪ What factors led to the rise of dictatorships in Russia, Italy, and Germany?
▪ What methods of control did Stalin, Mussolini, and Hitler use to maintain their power?
▪ What impact did totalitarian dictatorships have on global history?
The Rise of Totalitarian Dictators
Historical Context:
I. Stalin - Russia
A. Factors that led to his rise to power
1. Following Lenin’s death in 1922, communist leadership
passed to a “triumvirate”, three leaders, one being Joseph Stalin, the General Secretary of
the Communist Party.
2. Through careful political maneuvering, Stalin controlled the Party and had the other
including Leon Trotsky, exiled and eventually executed.
B. Methods of Rule
1. Secret Police – encouraged workers to spy on each other and children to spy on their
parents. Those accused of being disloyal were either sent to “gulags,” or prison camps
in Siberia, or they were executed.
2. Purges – Any potential leaders or Stalin dissenters were killed. Stalin also purged military
leaders, leaving the Soviet military with inexperienced and incompetent officers who were unprepared to fight in World War II.
3. Propaganda –
a. the Soviet government used posters to glorify Soviet Union and to urge people to
carry out the goals of the communist party.
b. writers and artists were forced to adopt a new style: “Socialist Realism.” They
were forced to glory Soviet heroes and achievements. They were not permitted to
use terror or forced labor as topics for their work.
4. War on the peasants – to successfully collectivize the Soviet agriculture, Stalin needed to
take land away from wealthy land-owning peasants called kulaks. Many kulaks lived in the
Ukraine and resisted the collectivization plan. Many Ukrainians also disliked communist
rule and wanted independence from the Soviet Union. As a result, Stalin forced a famine
upon Ukraine, killing nearly 10 million people.
II. Hitler – Germany
A. Factors that led to his rise to power
1. Global Depression – 1930’s – led to high unemployment rates throughout the world.
Nearly 22 percent of Germans were not working. Hitler’s increase in militarism (a violation
Of the Treaty of Versailles) put thousands of people back to work.
2. Treaty of Versailles –
a. Germany was forced to pay over 30 billion dollars in reparations for WWI.
b. Germany was forced to accept the blame for causing WWI.
c. Disarmament: The German military was practically disarmed
1. No airforce
2. No tanks
3. No submarines
4. No high-caliber weapons
5. Germany was not permitted to put troops in the Rhineland (territory near
France)
6. Germany’s standing army was limited to only 100,000 soldiers
d. Germany was forced to return the Alsace-Lorraine territory to France (an area that
was rich in natural resources)
e. The “Polish Corridor” was created – Germany was forced to give the Danzig
territory to Poland – giving Poland access to sea trading ports on the Baltic
3. Weimar Republic – its democratic nature provided the Nazis with a forum to promote their
anti-Semitic propaganda. In addition, the Weimar government was blamed for signing the
Treaty of Versailles.
4. Appointed Chancellor- President Von Hindenberg appointed Hitler as Chancellor to try
to restore order to the chaos of the German streets.
5. Burning of the Reischtag – Hitler and the Nazis burned the Reischtag (German
Parliament) and blamed the communists. With no Parliament to make laws, Hitler
assumed dictatorial powers
B. Methods of Rule
1. Propaganda
a. Hitler Youth – Camps that promoted absolute loyalty to the Nazis and prepared
children for war
b. Education – Books were burned and history became revised to promote the Nazis
racist views
2. Religion – Catholic churches and schools were closed as Hitler tried to replace religion
with his own racial creed.
3. Anti-Semitism –
a. The Nuremberg Laws of the 1930’s prohibited Jews from marrying non- Jews,
attending or teaching at schools or universities, holding government jobs, practicing
law or medicine, or writing books.
b. Kristallnacht – “Night of Broken Glass” – November 9, 1938: Nazis attacked
Jewish communities and businesses throughout Germany. Windows of synagogues
And shops were broken and stores were looted. Some synagogues were burned.
c. Concentration Camps – Jews were considered enemies to the German state and
forced into concentration camps as Hitler prepared for his “Final Solution” – the
extermination of all Jews.
III. Mussolini
A. Factors that led to his rise to power
1. Treaty of Versailles – As a victorious Allied country during WWI, Italy was promised and
expected territory from the German and Austria- Hungarian Empires. Italian veterans were
angered when they received no territory in the Treaty.
2. Global Depression – 1930’s – led to high unemployment rates throughout the world.
Nearly 20 percent of Italians were not working. Mussolini’s increase in militarism helped
To put many Italians back to work.
3. General Strikes – Inspired by the Russian Revolution, Italian communists inspired workers
throughout Italy to go on strike, resulting chaos in the streets.
4. Weakness of Constitutional Monarchy – King Victor Emmanuel III was no strong enough
to stop the riots. His government was blamed for the Treaty and for the Depression.
5. Black Shirts – Mussolini supporters used violence and intimidation to cause chaos in Italy
6. Appointed Prime Minister – In 1922, King Victor Emmanuel III appointed Mussolini as
Prime Minister, hoping that this would quiet the streets of Italy.
B. Methods of Rule
1. Censorship – Mussolini’ fascists took control of radio stations and newspapers
2. Black Shirts – Mussolini supporters used violence and intimidation to cause chaos in Italy
3. Propaganda – Mussolini gave speeches throughout Italy, pledging to return the country to
the glorious days of their Roman past.
-----------------------
Following the economic and political destruction of World War I, political leaders around the world claimed to have solutions to their nation’s problems. They were willing to take drastic measures to change the conditions of their countries.
HITLER
GERMANY
MUSSOLINI
ITALY
STALIN
USSR
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